As COVID-19 vaccination rates increase and numbers of infections and deaths decrease, the Oregon Health Authority is lowering the designated risk levels for some counties. Last week it announced that if counties had a 65 percent vaccination rate and a plan to close vaccine equity gaps, they would be eligible for the lower risk designation. That would mean significantly fewer restrictions on masking, indoor gatherings and social distancing. Multnomah county chose to wait to submit its equity plan until Friday, so the lower risk designation is not likely to come until sometime next week. We talk with Multnomah County Commission chair Deborah Kafoury about the details of the equity plan and more about the county’s overall COVID-19 strategy.